Route 66: Come for the classic cars, stay for the pie

Before interstate highways, Route 66 once was the way to see the West. Some remnants of Route 66 remain, however. Yes, you'll find that some places are loaded with tourist trinkets, but others serve up a wonderful slice of homemade pie. Here are some ways to still get your kicks.

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Tucked away in historical downtown Kingman, Sirens' Cafe has made a splash with a simple yet vibrant menu, heavy on sandwiches, quiches, soups and desserts. Everything is made from scratch, including sauces, dips, dressings and ricotta, and the menu is heavy on local ingredients. Every Thursday night, the kitchen whips up gourmet pizzas on cracker-thin crusts that can be enjoyed across the street at the Cellar Door Wine Bar.

Details: 419 E. Beale St. 928-753-4151, www.sirensinkingman.com.

The road from Kingman to Oatman during the annual Route 66 Fun Run.(Photo: Sean Evans)

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Join the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona for a weekend of exploring the beloved byway. The 26th annual Route 66 Fun Run is a rollicking parade of vehicles that begins in Seligman, moves through Kingman and on to Topock-Golden Shores on the Colorado River. It is open to anyone with a set of wheels — buses, motorcycles, RVs, trucks or classic cars. There will be food, vendors, music and activities in each town.

Drivers always travel from east to west. One year, organizers tried it the other way, and were nearly confronted with a mutiny, director Jan Davis said.

If reliving the glory days of Route 66 is more important to you than having everything in the room be brand-spanking-new, consider El Trovatore Motel. It dates to 1937 and has rooms named for James Dean, Audrey Hepburn and Clint Eastwood. The owner is a trove of information about the community and Route 66 history. Rooms have microwaves, fridges and Wi-Fi, and the motel is pet-friendly.